Attachment for the mouthpiece of musical instruments



April 15, 1958 H. H. SAYLOR EVTAL 2,330,483

ATTACHMENT FOR THE MOUTHPIECE 0F MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 8, 1955 IN V EN TORS.

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3 THE/ H7708! Y United States Patent 2,830,483 ATTACHMENT FOR THE MOUTHPIECE OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Harrison H. Saylor and Ivan C. Kay, Detroit, Mich. Application February 8, 1955, Serial No. 486,953 1 Claim. (Cl. 84-398) This invention relates to an attachment for the mouthpiece of a musical instrument, such as a trumpet or other wind instrument.

in playing a musical wind instrument, tonal qualities of sound are varied by variation in pressure of the mouthpiece on the lips. This pressure causes the lips to fatigue. The pressure is likewise applied through the lips to the teeth and when dentures are used the mobility thereof affects the quality of the tone. There is also a danger to the lips and teeth in the event of accidental striking the instrument to cause excessive pressure to the lips and teeth.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an attachment in the form of a chin rest for the mouthpiece of the instrument which will transfer the major portion of the pressure to the chin bone, leaving the lips free of excessive pressure for muscular control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a longitudinally adjustable attachment for a mouthpiece, which may be readily applied or removed from the mouthpiece, for positioning the chin rest relative to the end face of the mouthpiece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a radially adjustable chin rest with respect to the longitudinally extending opening in the mouthpiece so that the chin rest can be moved toward or away from the opening.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. l. is a side elevational view of a mouthpiece for a musical instrument showing the improved attachment applied thereto, parts of the attachment being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front end elevational view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 0 Fig. l.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a mouthpiece is provided with a lip contactpiece .12 and a shank portion 14 to frictionally fit the open tubular end of the musical instrument.

The attachment, comprising the main portion of the invention, includes a body portion 16 having a ferrule iii and a forwardly projecting arm at the edge of the ferrule 18. The ferrule 18 is adapted for a sliding fix: over the outer end of the shank portion 14 and is held thereon in adjusted position by a wing nut 22, threaded into the ferrule for engagement with the outer periphery of the shank 14. The ferrule 18, having a sliding fit with the shank of the mouthpiece, can be adjusted longitudinally along the length of the shank so that its distance from the outer end of the lip contactpiece can be predetermined and locked in that position by the wing nut 22.

The forwardly projecting arm 20 is provided with spaced downwardly extending flanges 24 which carry a cross pin 26 spaced from the lower surface of the arm 20. The pin 26 serves as a fulcrum for a bar 28 which extends generally in a plane parallel to the arm 20, but which may be rocked on the pin 26 for changing the vertical distance between the outer end of the bar with respect "ice to the outer end of the arm 20. The bar 28 is provided with a pair of wing nuts 30 and 32, spaced at opposite sides of the pin 26, which have threaded engagement with the bar and extend therethrough for contact engagement with the under surface of the arm 20. The wing nuts 30 and 32 not only exert a pressure of the bar against the pin 26 to hold the bar in fixed position, but also serve to adjust the vertical distance between the outer ends of the arm 20 and bar 28, as by tightening or loosening one wing nut with respect to the other. When the wing nuts 30 and 32 are loosened, the bar 28 may be slid longitudinally to position its outer end with respect to the outer face of the lip contact-piece, thus providing a further adjustment for the device.

The outer end of the bar 28 is provided with a chin contact member 34 which is pivoted within angular limits of rocking motion to the bar 28. A pair of spaced flanges 36, carried by the contact member 34, receive a pin 38 forming the pivot for the contact member 34. The outer end of the bar 28 has a flat face 40, the upper and lower edges of the face form a stop for the limited pivotal movement of the contact member 34.

The contact member 34, in top plan view, is curved to fit the chin and in front face view has its upper edge straight with no portion extending into the lower lip movement. The lower edge is preferably curved and extends into the region of the chin, so that the contact member 34- suugly fits the upper portion of the chin. If desired, the member 34 may be padded.

From the above it will be understood that when the attachment is applied to the mouthpiece of a musical instrument, excessive pressures are taken by the chin rather than by the lips and teeth. It serves with the mouthpiece in providing a three point contact with the upper lip, lower lip and chin, relieving the lips of pressure and tension. It affords protection in the event of accidental pressure. By transferring the pressure required to the chin, the lips are free for muscular movement and do not become tired. The device being longitudinally movable relative to the length of the mouthpiece and the contact member being vertically movable relative to the axis of the mouthpiece, it is capable of adjustment to conveniently fit the lip and chin of the individual player.

While we have fully described-one form of the device as illustrating the invention, it will be understood that various changes, including the size, shape and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention and it is our intention to cover by the appended claims such changes as may be reasonably included within the scope thereof.

We claim:

A device of the class decribed comprising, a ferrule, an arm projecting laterally from one edge of said ferrule in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the opening through said ferrule, a pivot on the side of the arm remote from said ferrule and spaced from said arm, a bar in the space between said pivot and said arm, said bar being rockable on said pivot, and means for causing a rocking of said bar on said pivot, whereby one end of said bar is moved toward and away from said arm, and a pivotally mounted chin contact plate carried at the movable end of said bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,480 Carson July 25, 1905 2,499,855 Gamble Mar. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,036 France July 28, 1903 

